NSTA Engage: Spring21 - Sessions

Save a Nickel and Learn to Trickle!

Learn how to create a project-based camp or classroom lesson that enable students to apply concepts, such as photosynthesis and the water cycle, to design a smart irrigation system. Inspired by real-world events, students are motivated to apply problem-solving skills and learn some basic programming to come up with innovative solutions to using water more efficiently.

Takeaways: 1. Developing models to better understand a process; 2. Constructing explanations and designing solutions; and 3. Introducing students to coding to solve a science problem with an engineering solution.

Speakers

Jessica Kohout (Howard County Conservancy: Woodstock, MD)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Phenomenal Storylines to Drive Student Learning with Discovery Education’s Science Techbook for Middle School

The 16 units in Discovery Education’s brand-new Science Techbook for middle school are driven by engaging anchor phenomena that prompt students to ask driving questions. Students engage in storylines using the science and engineering practices to collect evidence that answers their questions, learning both core ideas and crosscutting concepts along the way.

Takeaways: 1. Curriculum units should begin with an anchor phenomena that stimulates student questions; 2. A unit should be designed to allow students to collect evidence from investigative phenomena that they can use to answer their questions; and 3. Students should make sense of phenomena by engaging in practices that lead them to develop disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts.

Speakers

Hailey Adams Mangum (Discovery Education: Chicago, IL), Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Increase Engagement in Science Trough Asynchronous Learning

It is no surprise that the more engaged a student is with their learning, the more knowledge they retain. One significant takeaway from this past year is that many students thrived in an asynchronous learning environment. Learn how to support educators within any instructional model through game-based learning, increasing student engagement and content retention.

Takeaways: 1. How asynchronous learning can help engage students through content experiences; 2. How to support educators within any instructional model through game-based learning; and 3. Understanding of how game-based learning can increase engagement while teaching content.

Speakers

Joselyn Whetzel (Legends of Learning: Washington, DC), Aryah Fradkin (Legends of Learning: Washington, DC), Sean Reidy (Legends of Learning: Washington, DC)

Biodiversity and the Environment

In this session you will learn how to use a simulation of an aquatic ecosystem to help students see the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors such as dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature. The simulation makes it possible to model environments that would otherwise be very difficult to monitor and experiment with. Plus, the fish animations are really cool!

Takeaways: 1. Using simulations with students can help them better visualize the mechanisms behind phenomena; 2. Simulations are a great complement to hands-on learning and work best when hands on isn't possible/practical; and 3. Effects of changes to certain variables in aquatic ecosystems can have negative effects on the organisms that live there.

Speakers

Jessica Kohout (Howard County Conservancy: Woodstock, MD)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Engaging with Grants

Join us as we explore how you can identify and leverage new and existing resources to bring funding and awesome projects to your students. In this not-your-typical grant-writing workshop, we will delve into the relationship between engagement and grants and consider best practices for engaging students, colleagues, partners, and the community. You'll leave this workshop with the information you need to prepare a grant proposal that will wow funders! Takeaways include materials with ideas and activities to sharpen engagement and grant writing toward increasing student outcomes and impacts.

Takeaways: How to: 1. get information for grant applications; engage partners; and 3. find grants.

Speakers

Karol Stephens (Ward's Science: Fayetteville, GA), Rusti Berent (Ward's Science: West Henrietta, NY)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Assessing Three-Dimensional Learning with Discovery Education’s Science Techbook for Middle School

Discovery Education’s brand-new Science Techbook for middle school provides multiple opportunities to assess students’ proficiency with all three dimensions. This session highlights the opportunities for formative assessments throughout the unit as students engage in practices, as well as a summative unit project and a set of performance-based assessments (PBAs) targeting every performance expectation.

Takeaways: 1. Students' engagement in science and engineering practices provides an opportunity for formative assessments; 2. Assessments should be tied to phenomena; and 3. Assessments should be three-dimensional.

Speakers

Nikki Brassell Snyder (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD), Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Complement Hands-On with Simulations!

You will see how easy and engaging it can be to use simulations in your chemistry (actually most sciences) class! Simulations are great to speed up the very slow, slow down the very fast, zoom in on the very small, and shrink the very large so students can better understand these scientific processes.

Takeaways: Simulations: 1. are great complements to hands on; 2. can help students better see the really small, really large, really fast, or really slow processes in nature; and 3. are NOT the only approach to teaching science but do serve a role in helping students better understand phenomena.

Speakers

Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Youngsville, LA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Fueling Success for Students—Win Cash and Prizes Up to $15K

Come start your winning application for one of three Shell-sponsored programs. We'll walk through the application step by step and you'll be able to begin your application or nomination form live.

Takeaways: Learn: 1. tips to complete a successful application; 2. who's eligible to apply; and 3. how to nominate a deserving teacher.

Speakers

Ruth Ruud (Cleveland State University: Cleveland, OH), Amanda Upton (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Using Maggots, Flies, and Flesh to Solve a Mystery!

A decomposing corpse is found in a field. Four possible missing persons fit the description. But who is it? Using clues near the scene will help determine identity. Forensic anthropologist Diane France helped to develop this free middle school and high school forensic science lesson.

Takeaways: 1. Forensic science is a great career field that combines science with criminal justice; 2. Natural processes of decomposition of flesh can be clues to determining cause of death; and 3. Storytelling is a great way to engage students in science.

Speakers

Jeffrey Lukens (Retired Science Teacher: Sioux Falls, SD)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Using Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Science Classes

Integrate VR/AR science modules to help your students understand complex topics in an immersive engaging environment.

Takeaways: 1. Learn the research on using VR/AR in education; 2. View sample science module content; and 3. View the teacher portal and receive immediate free access to all content.

Speakers

Doug Smith (XR Guru: Dublin, OH)